14 Chapter Legitimizing Drug Use: A Note on the
Impact of Gang Membership and Drug Sales on the Use of Illicit Drugs
Sehrish Khan Gimena Chavez
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The Link Between Gangs and Drugs
Most research has demonstrated that gang members
sell drugs as individuals and gangs have little control over profit and sales made by their members.
The concept of a market implies both sellers and
buyers, however little is known of gang members and their involvement as consumers.
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The Link between Gangs and Drugs (Cont.)
In the early 1980s gang members were both sellers
and users of cocaine but that use of cocaine declined as cocaine sales became a means of income.
42% of cocaine sellers are presently using the drug.
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Fagan Survey 1989
Surveyed innercity youths in high crime
neighborhoods in SD, LA, and Chicago.
He identified 4 types of gangs: Social gangs, party
gangs, serious delinquent gangs, and organized gangs.
Fagan concluded that involvement in drug sales is
correlated positively with drug use.
Gangs with high levels of drug sales also use drugs at
high levels.
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The Present Study
Gang members' drug use is compared with that of
nongang peers matched in age and gender.
The studies data was from 2 sources: 1995 Drug Use
Forecasting and interviews done in St. Louis and Chicago.
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First Source: DUF Gun Addendum Sample
JanJun 1995 8,038 arrestees interviewed for: drug
use, gun possession, and gang membership
Interviewed: Male 58% , Female23%, Juvenile
Males17%, Juvenile Female2%
7% of interviewees reported that they were currently
gang members, 22% sold drugs in the past year and 64% were reported using illegal.
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DUF Findings: nongang members
65% consumed illicit drugs 38% were more likely to test positive for cocaine 36% were tested positive for marijuana 6% used Opiates 2% used PCP
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DUF Findings: Gang Members
58% tested positive for illicit drug use 24% used cocaine 44% marijuana 5% Opiates 4% PCP Gang members prefer marijuana and use less cocaine
than nongang arrestees
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Sellers: Gang Members
Adults44% used Cocaine Juveniles 8% used cocaine 25% TOTAL: for cocaine Adults40% used Marijuana Juveniles 55% used Marijuana TOTAL: 48% for Marijuana
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NonSellers: Gang Members
Adult 42% used cocaine Juveniles8% used cocaine TOTAL: 23% used cocaine Adult 37% used Marijuana Juveniles47% used Marijuana TOTAL: 41% used Marijuana
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Interview Data
A group of imprisoned gang members were
interviewed in St. Louis and Chicago. The researcher's had four themes:
First, most gang members who used drugs made a clear distinction between "bad" drugs and drugs that are "okay" Second, set of accounts revealed in the interviews is the status of formal rules among members regarding drug use. Third, view stated that abstinence is good because excessive drug use leads to problems such as money Fourth, some gang members reported that heavy drug use is acceptable but individuals are responsible for themselves.
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Interview Data (cont.)
Latin King on Probation stated that, "you can smoke
weed and everything but you can't do crack or nothing major..."
The researcher had asked, "what happens to people
in the gang who use drugs?" Response from the St. Louis Piru 104 Blood, " if you get caught, you get beat up."
Gang members who used drugs were viewed as
incompatible with good business practices because users could not be trusted to be accurate with the money and to avoid using the drugs they are
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Conclusion
Non gang members who sold were more likely to use
cocaine
Gang members who are sellers are more likely to use
marijuana.
Marijuana was identified as being acceptable because
it is not addictive and they see it as part of the gang life.
Researchers concluded that gangs members are not
effective in controlling their gang members drug consumption
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POP QUIZ
Who is more likely to use cocaine?
A. NON GANG MEMBERS WHO SOLD B. GANG MEMBERS WHO SOLD
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ANSWER
Non gang members who sold were more likely
to use cocaine
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POP QUIZ
WHO USED MARIJUANA MORE?
A. JUVENILES B. ADULTS
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ANSWER
JUVENILES
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THE END
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